Experience
Ronald L. Acker
A Professional Background
In his book, Turnaround, former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney, described presenting the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee's highest award, the Olympic Order to Excellence" to Ron Acker for his work in developing OVID, the Olympic Visa Issuance Database, which was instrumental in bringing more than 30,000 foreign nationals to the United States for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Governor Romney wrote, "(Ron) developed the new electronic visa procedures and personally convinced the FBI, Secret Service and the CIA that they could work. And, after nine years of working to make the Olympics as success, we invited him to join us in Salt Lake for the Games. But Ron's priority was making the system work and he knew he needed to be in Washington. Ron made America look good to the world community. Together with Secretary Armitage in the ceremonial 8th floor diplomatic reception room, we presented the award to a surprised public servant."
A New Direction
During Ron's work in developing the electronic visa-issuance protocol for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games, the State Department sent him to Australia in 2000 to cover its summer Olympic Games. He attended many artistic and cultural shows at galleries and museums during visits to Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney.
The quality, diversity and energy of Australian art struck him as bold and exciting. However, of all the artistic work he was privileged to see, nothing affected him more deeply than the paintings by Australia's Aboriginal artists. While in Sydney, he had the good fortune to attend a remarkable exhibit at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. It was called "Papunya Tula: Genesis and Genius" and featured works of breathtaking power, brilliance and beauty. His encounter with these paintings became a life-transforming event.
Founding Gallery Sydney-East Art & Design Consultancy
In 2005 Ron founded Gallery Sydney-East to represent established and newly emerging Australian Aboriginal artists. In 2007 he spent a month in Australia visiting a number of Aboriginal art centers, travelling over 3,000 kilometers from Darwin to Kununurra, Turkey Creek, Purnululu, Balgo, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby and Broome. He was privileged to meet with artists and administrators at art centers in Waringarri, Warmun, Warlayirti, Mangkaja and Mowanjum. During this trip, he purchased many works by established and newly emerging artists.
In 2008 he was honored to be one of seven US gallery owners selected by the Australian Government to participate in an all expense-paid Australian Trade Commission delegation to twenty-three Aboriginal art communities designed to raise the profile of Australian indigenous artists in the US.
Summary: Experience is Key
During his successful career with the State Department and his follow-on career as a gallery owner, Ron has developed professional-level competencies in writing, graphical arts, communications, public speaking, database design, sales, and business operations. Additionally, he has an extensive network of connections in the political and governmental areas and in the fine arts.